Farewell to a man of the people
Decades in the Westminster village, surrounded by the London-centric media and privately educated politicians can change a person.
Not so for Lord Bilston, the former Wolverhampton South East MP Dennis Turner.
If ever the phrase 'man of the people' applied so completely to one individual, it would be him.
Never, in all his long years of service both as an MP and later as a peer of the realm did he ever forget where he was from.
He was born in Bilston, lived there his entire life and passed away there last night at the age of 71.
The words being used in tribute by those who knew him, either well or just as brief acquaintances, include 'wonderful', 'kind', but also 'fighter'.
In spirit and in personality, Dennis Turner was a giant of a man.
He was extraordinarily friendly and down to earth, a true 'Black Country mon', as the campaigners who marched through the streets to urge people to vote for him said.
Even when Lord Bilston was in the Palace of Westminster, surrounded by the great and good of the United Kingdom, his brother Bert, at one time Mayor of Wolverhampton, would call him simply 'our kid'.
We no longer see that many Parliamentarians from the sort of background of Dennis Turner – a working class lad who had a long career in a steelworks, represented his community on the council and then went on to be chosen to take their views to ministers and legislators.
But Lord Bilston was every bit the community champion.
He lived and breathed for his home town, even choosing it as his name when he was elevated to the Lords.
He would not hold back with his views and his beliefs in his political party and its causes, or his objections to the policies of the Tories.
And yet he always showed a respect and kindness towards everyone he met.
In an age of political spin, special advisers, backbiting and constant, relentless criticism, the example of Lord Bilston reminds us all of the importance of community. Dennis Turner was a man who got people to pull together and help everyone. He will be sadly missed.
Cost of holidays is a real dilemma
The eye-watering difference between prices for the same holiday, just a few weeks apart, is nothing short of a rip-off.
And yet can anyone really blame travel companies for charging a premium for their services at the time when they are most in demand?
The school holidays bring a dreadful dilemma for many hard-working, cash-strapped families.
Do they obey the rules, going away for a much-needed break once the schools are on holiday and pay hundreds of pounds more?
Risk
Or do they take their children out of school to take advantage of a discount, running the risk of a hefty fine for non-attendance?
There is no one simple solution to this.
Holiday companies cannot be expected to cut their prices when they know that there are people who are willing to pay them.
And schools cannot just stand by and allow parents to sacrifice their children's precious education.
It is difficult also to act upon calls for a change in the school holiday dates.
Parents with children at different schools will struggle to balance the time off.
The only solution is for holiday companies, schools, parents and the Government to work together.
Then maybe it would give everyone a break.
